Misty day in Nikko - 1. carving the key block

[@seseragistudio]

Taran-san, wonderful video! So much information! It's not that I was in any doubt that you would be able to get this print made for us, but having seen this, I think it is clear that it is going to be a very special production. And old Yoshida-san would be very pleased to see the care and attention going into your work ... It's going to be so cool to have this print available again!

[@GinkoHanga]

Thank you very much Dave! I have 😅, but it will get done eventually. One block at a time it’s coming! Thanks for watching, I’m glad you enjoyed it! Slightly strange see you on the other side of this. Twilight zone.

[@Vee_of_the_Weald]

What I find very interesting is that the background music you chose corresponds (I’m a ballerina) to either the bare exercise/warm up in ballet - which we use to “cut our lines correctly”, just like you do, over and over again until it’s second nature, just like you do with carving a block and printing over and over again until carving becomes intuitive. Other music you chose corresponds to exercises on the pointes 🩰 where we do the same turn over and over again until it’s near enough perfect and muscle memory takes over. Your thoroughness pleases my thoroughness :) 🙏🏻

[@GinkoHanga]

Finding the right music takes so long, I’m glad you appreciate it. if you have any suggestions for future projects please me me know I’m always on the look out for more!

[@meredithburke4265]

This is so awesome. I am so glad I found your corner of the internet. You have a quiet mastery, and the way that you’ve edited it and provided commentary is super helpful for another artist. you’re not trumpeting your accomplishments, but you’re accomplishments are speaking for themselves. It’s just refreshing and so fun to watch. Can’t wait for other videos of your channel!

[@GinkoHanga]

This is such a lovely comment, thank you. What a pleasant corner of the internet I’ve found haha!

[@EliotChildress]

I’m also someone who works with wood and usually think of myself as a patient person. But… wow. I can’t even imagine. It’s amazing in every way. Congratulations on a life well spent. I’m glad to know you’ll be carrying this tradition into the future. Looks like a it’s in great hands.

[@GinkoHanga]

Thank you Eliot. Any work with shaping wood is usually a recipe for a satisfying life I feel. So congrats yo you also!

[@MoranetzMakes]

Thank you for making this video! I know it adds a lot of extra effort to do the filming/editing, but it’s very exciting to see the progress.

[@lcox6468]

This type of work is exquisite. They seem to have a character all of there own. I wish people today would fall in love with old techniques instead of mass production. You are doing an amazing job and very lucky to be able to go to Japan.

[@morningsounds]

This is spectacular, thank you for making this. There's information in here that is, to my knowledge, completely inaccessible elsewhere and risks being lost to time. For example, concrete strategies and movements used to carve without turning the block, technique and order for clearing wastewood with the gouges, lowering the registration marks below the print surface (so smart!) etc. Dave has been on the forefront of cataloguing this sort of knowledge for a long time; it's fantastic to see new faces doing the same. For those who are unable to seek an actual apprenticeship, this stuff is gold. I also feel very similar to you; I've always had an unstoppable appetite for hobbies, and for laser-focusing on them until I reach proficiency. Of course, only a handful have stuck around for the long haul, but for those that have, they're a continuing source of immense joy and meaning. The act itself of creating, of improving and recognizing that improvement, and of having produced a finished work, all act together to create a virtuous and rewarding cycle. I've only been carving for just two years, and I have not yet produced anything worthy of pride; I hope I stick with this long enough that I might. In the meantime, I'll continue to enjoy the process. Thanks again for making this - you have a wonderful talent! Yoshida is one of my favorites. I'll be keeping a close eye on this channel. :)

[@GinkoHanga]

Thank you very much @mornings I’m really glad that there are people out there like yourself who are enjoying the content and understand why I’m putting time into try and film and document this stuff. developing, moving towards a goal and creating in something, to my understanding ,the clearest ways to find some sort of meaning in this all. And for me (and you by the sounds of it) carving has been that something. I hope you keep up with you carving and keep finding joy in it. Good luck with your carving, and I’ll try and share what I learn.

[@alcyonecrucis]

Wow what a guy ! I’m still learning how to cut with the hangi to, definitely a steep learning curve ! 😊

[@GinkoHanga]

Thank you. Good luck on your carving journey, steep curve but very rewarding. Keep it up!

[@ThePaidiose]

Such a pleasure to watch a master craftsman in the making!Look forward to buying the print for my collection.

[@tillum7593]

Excited to see it in color!!

[@lou7859]

Well worth waiting for Taran-san. I will be coming back to watch again many-many times. Thank You.

[@jacekmachowski4722]

wow :) Great Work. Thanks you very much for the opportunity to view your work technique. Best wishes :)

[@jakobgjertsen2801]

Wow! Looking forward to see more of the process and the final image! Love the explenation troughout, toughts and problemsolving along the way!🤩 Also verry relaxing with music and voice audio! Inspirational! Shin hanga😍😍

[@GinkoHanga]

Thank you so much, your very kind!

[@bruh.6264]

This is amazing and passionate work. You are incredibly inspiring, and I hope that one day I will find my passion as well.

[@GinkoHanga]

All I did was play around and this one stuck haha, have fun !

[@alanrothnie1410]

Just got onto your channel, i think you will be a Master carver. Love your work👏👏

[@leCanard0]

Loved your video, I will be listening to every future release!

[@ROCO1778]

Amazing work and a very good video. A pleasure to watch🤍

[@MalloryCurtis]

beautiful and inspiring work

[@davidh8373]

Very glad to see your carving video, awesome job

[@rach_rxch]

Omg. Wonderful video. This type of work/craft would bring me so much satisfaction! The precision is delicious - beautiful work!

[@mastercmdr78]

Taran, great work on the video! It’s good to see the work you were telling us about on the streams. I can’t wait to see the next one and keep up the good work.

[@pamelasorrells2187]

Great job Taran-san!

[@dr.gregoryashley3843]

i'm so proud of you mate. i dont have the words. I am delighted that you have found your calling. I wish you all the very best.

[@vividlabskp]

Thank you for this! I really appreciate your explanations, both on the context and on the carving. So nice to see the traditional method.

[@orion7741]

Wow! so nice. I came here after hearing Dave mention you in his annual update video and I am so glad he gave the recomendation to all of us to come see your video. You are doing a really great job with your carving!

[@brianrosswakeham6577]

Well done Taran-san. Great video for those who are or want to learn. Also love your perspectives on life.

[@Croi_Fiain]

Only just got here from David Bull's 2023 update. I wish I had even 10% of your patience. Your dedication is admirable! Really interesting listening to your narration as well, and the music is perfect. I wish you all the success you earn over the years and look forward to seeing how you develop the craftsmanship!

[@GinkoHanga]

Thank you! Here’s to a 2024 with many more prints to come🥳

[@proj_4st313]

Awesome video! Loved the narration - so calming! Can’t wait for the next video in the series.

[@tonywatson987]

What a great instructional video Taran-san! Really good voice-over, noting those tiny little nuances, like how you hold the knife vs the chisel. Surprising to see the differences in technique between you as a right-hander, and Dave-san as a southpaw, plus you keeping the same orientation and moving your body, rather than his approach of moving the block. I like that small touch of reducing the height of the kento to protect the baren ... something I'd not noticed before. And your video technique is very impressive, especially at 13:42 'focus' - brilliant! Subbed!

[@AnetteY11]

Super interesting, thank you so much! Makes me realise what a beginner I am 🤗

[@meltdowngrfx969]

Great video! Thanks for sharing your carving knowledge 🙏

[@tuhkathri9126]

The dedication to learn the requisite skills is impressive. I look forward to adding this print to my collection.

[@denisspengel3785]

I’m planning a trip to Japan in September and my first stop will be to hopefully see David Bull working in person. Seems to me you’re ready for your own apprentice! Keep up the amazing work you’re doing

[@MrSupersheep3000]

I really hope you continue this Taran-San. Really beautiful work.

[@egboyyyyy]

Stunning skills, thanks for sharing !

[@cassinoman4435]

Incredible work for the first video in this series. Exquisitely brought together your passion for carving, but also a triumph in another area that has clearly inspired you, the story-telling and insightfulness that we so often see from career craftspeople like David Bull. V excited to see your own style of storytelling develop!

[@d.yitzgoldstein3515]

Absolutely lovely... Posted to some of my artisan communities so that they too can appreciate your gifts

[@GinkoHanga]

Thank you for sharing it !

[@mokuhanga1]

Superb work, Taran For promoting your account, 'mericans type surname last , Hiroshi Yoshida, and perhaps this should be in the video title. 👍

[@GinkoHanga]

Thanks for the advice I didn’t think the order of the words would effect the reach. I’ll flip it round cheers

[@mokuhanga1]

@@GinkoHanga "I studied Japan's old woodblock prints, learning their merits and demerits. Now, I have thought about why there are no good modern prints. I came to realize modern works had 2 shortcomings: first, they tried to emulate hand-drawn brushstrokes and, second, constrained by old traditional methods, they failed to experiment with anything new. The aim of shin-hanga is to create works replete with creativity and rich in artistic quality, by avoiding enslavement to hand-drawn painting and old models." Watanabe Shozaburo Yoshida Hiroshi preached and practiced in the same vein. Food for thought. 😃

[@MoranetzMakes]

@@GinkoHanga also I wanted to mention that the audio level is a little low. It sounds great when I turn it up, but then the annoying KZbin ads deafen me haha. I have had trouble with this too so I just wanted to mention. Again, great video all around and thank you!

[@GinkoHanga]

That’s an interesting quote. Where did you find that one ?

[@GinkoHanga]

Sorry about that I’ll get the balance better on the next one

[@bawk7311]

Your work is really inspiring for me. I’m currently majoring in Printmaking and have a fondness for Ukiyo-e. I think I might travel to Japan eventually to study more. I’m glad that you were able to travel and learn from the masters there. I thought that door would be closed for me as a foreigner, but your story has given me some hope and inspiration.

[@GinkoHanga]

Good luck with your own print making. It’s wasn’t an easy rout to take, the account I gave was condensed. I’m not sure it it’s a road map for anybody to follow, but there are ways to study for a time here!

[@ryanboeding1318]

Love the work Taran, keep it up, stay focused.

[@ineedathis]

Excellent work!

[@hrnekbezucha]

Thank you for the commentary, it's fascinating

[@LiquidFlower]

I recommend linking the next video in your description :D lovely video and great intro for me into what wood printing looks like!

[@GinkoHanga]

Omg yes thank you I forgot to do that!

[@omkr0122]

This video is very peaceful. Would love to see it again

[@GinkoHanga]

Thank you I’m glad you enjoyed. Please enjoy parts 2 and 3 !

[@omkr0122]

@@GinkoHanga I will and thanks

[@owmspace6143]

This is extraordinary work

[@simonedoherty6195]

Thoroughly enjoyed watching your meticulous work. A couple of questions. What is the wood you were working with please? Obviously a ply but what was the carving layer. The hangi-to seemed the work through it quite easity but you used a mallet to clear larger areas with the gouges. Also, how often do you strop or sharpen your hangi-to on a piece of this intricacy? Keep up the good work, will definately be watching the following videos. Thanks again.

[@GinkoHanga]

Thank you, I’m happy to hear, I hope the next videos please :) The wood is a mountain cherry. I keep my knife pretty sharp and I’m only carving just over a millimetre so the carvings not very strenuous but the wood itself is quite hard. As to how often I sharpen it a little tricky to say, I carve with three knives so that if I chip or one gets dull I can continue without stopping. So I’m judgment of how often i sharpen is a little off. Depends on how well I sharpen, the wood and how good the steel is at that particular point but ranges from once a day to once a week.

[@simonedoherty6195]

Thanks for your detailed reply regarding your sharpening. Having a number of knives available to work with sounds like a sensible idea so you don't lose the flow of carving when one blade needs work.

[@e.m.youtube]

I really appreciate your calm voice and the soothing music in the background. In combination with your explanations and thoughts this was a really enjoyable walkthorugh of the process. Looking forward to seeing the other videos in the series and accompanying your journey on mastering print making. Glad to have found you after one of Dave's streams ^^ Keep up the great work

[@GinkoHanga]

Thank you. I’ll try and get the next video out soon and keep calm vibe but fix the bugs!

[@mark6662]

Fantastic video, really interesting to see the process of carving the blocks. Looking forward to more in the future, keep up the good work.

[@eoinoriain7958]

amazing work , love your dedication 👏

[@Vee_of_the_Weald]

Your minutiae is so satisfying. I hope you know how very talented as well as clearly skilled you are.

[@GinkoHanga]

Thank you so much 😊

[@barsorrro]

This was just lovely to watch. I love Japanese prints, but I don't have anything to do with carving (apart from watching Dave Bull quite often :)) -- yet watching somebody doing a work they are so dedicated to, and which takes so much effort, is very inspiring.

[@sjain8111]

so interesting & explained so well & Facts such as 10-yr apprenticeship answer unspoken questions… even the graphics are used sparingly to perfection

[@GinkoHanga]

Thank you very much your very kind. I’m glad you enjoyed it!

[@mangakazgz]

Thank you very much for your art :)

[@_Ronin_-fo4rt]

I thoroughly enjoyed this video and look forward to purchasing this amazing block work you have created

[@_Ronin_-fo4rt]

P.s when will this piece be available?

[@GinkoHanga]

Thank you I’m really happy to hear people are enjoying it, it will be available at mokuhankan when it’s finally done !

[@johnmcmunn3827]

GREAT ..thx for the video ...please continue ....

[@felix496]

Bro, I found this video after searching for very precise woodcut like gustave doré's and your story aslong as your skill really moved me. Thank you for the video and the work. I hope you'll succeed with your career as it unfolds eventually. that s so inspiring

[@GinkoHanga]

Thank you man I’m glad you enjoyed it. Not supper familiar with western woodblocks busy Gustave does some really amazing things with light!

[@mobspeak]

Seems very meditative.

[@GinkoHanga]

Yeah you sound give it a go.

[@Amtcboy]

Impressive.

[@Jotape1971]

We need more videos! please, regards.

[@GinkoHanga]

Work on this print got delayed a little with other jobs but I’m back on it making the colour blocks. Sorry hopefully it will be worth waiting for haha😅

[@alexobrads]

great video, really appreciate all the information you put in it. please make more when you are ready :)

[@GinkoHanga]

Im going to knuckle down and shoot it out as soon as I can.✊

[@rieckstudio]

wonderful filming. Close-up is great. Question- when printing fields that are not separated by a key line, which field should be slightly overlayed over the other? is it the darker or lighter colour field? Intuition would say the darker colour field would extend over the lighter because the darker pigment will cover any white line of the paper between the two fields. thanks again

[@GinkoHanga]

Thank you. The darker field should be cut precisely to where your want it to end in your final print as this will make you outline with no key lines. The lighter colours are not forgiving and will disappear mostly under the darker colour. So as a rule light extends out under dark.good luck with your print!

[@rieckstudio]

@ thank you, Tara-san. That makes sense. 🙏

[@deniseweavinghannah]

This is so healing!

[@GinkoHanga]

😍

[@BartKevelham]

10/10 for the video, but that's a 1/10 peel. Tsk tsk tsk. Jokes aside, a lovely video. I hope you keep them coming. It will be great to follow along with your progress.

[@GinkoHanga]

I was waiting for that one 😂 I left it on while working the upper section because it was really hot when I was carving and I knew it would take a while so I left it to protect it from peeling.

[@simonettahelena986]

Well,…I subscribed! Love everything about this video, particularly the little gems you have strewn about. For example, the carving action that originates from the hip stance or energy, or using camellia oil and a toothbrush to make the process easier. Can’t imagine information such as this could be gleaned anywhere except from a master carver or one who was trained by one and kind enough to share with others. Loved your musical selection, too. Might I suggest Mozart piano concerto 21 Andante for a future video? It would once again be a meeting of sublime things to watch you carve and listen to by, just as it was with ( if I recall correctly)Debussy in this wonderful video!

[@GinkoHanga]

Thank you, I’m not well versed in classical more of a jazz fan but I think it works better for this video, maybe I’ll add your suggestion in the next video😉

[@oldjapanesephotos3684]

Great carving skills, you remind me of the great masters of Adachi publishing house era :) I'd like to get into woodblock carving, not only collecting them. Could you recommend a professional hangito, like the ones you're using? (I can buy from Japan)

[@GinkoHanga]

Thank you! It’s fun making your own for sure you should try, you can buy the carving knives from woodlike matsumura I use the 4.5 mm blades. Good luck

[@timandrenata]

Wow - your passion for carving is amazing and inspiring! I'm wondering how much time it took for each of these stages in this video? It looks like carving the lines would take hours and hours.

[@GinkoHanga]

It’s just very satisfying work! I don’t remember the exact time it took but it was about a month of carving for the key.

[@ahoeltje]

This was a great pleasure to watch but the sound is not so good. I’m afraid most of the finer details in the narration were lost to me. You mentioned getting a second camera but I suggest a better microphone should also be on the list. Maybe a donation link for equipment? Hope to see more of your work soon.

[@ahoeltje]

Excellent! I found your Patreon page and joined.

[@GinkoHanga]

Thank you so much Allan!

[@crowah6083]

This is amazing how it's good ! thanks you very much for sharing ! (I've just started my first woodblock carving yesterday , i'm so far from you... ) For the next video just check levels on your voice before export, this one is far from standard (but sound good !). Have a nice day !

[@GinkoHanga]

Thank you, yeah it’s really frustrating but the program I was using changes all the audio levels once I export it and I didn’t notice. I’m using different software now so hopefully the next one will be better. Good luck with your print !

[@wac8516]

like japanese prints. wondered how many days to do this block? how many blocks for full print? would quess going to sleep after a day of carving would be no problem. i was electronic mechanic repairing things for planes and can say after 8, 10 or 12 hr days was so worn out the same doing physical work and ive done both so i know. so enjoyed your vid. thanks

[@GinkoHanga]

Hi I’m not sure exactly how many days as at the time I was working on this part time. I was still teaching and I had other assignments that I made thought. Start to finish it was about 6 months. The full breakdown of the blocks is in the final video. It’s fun but doing anything for 12 hours every day becomes tiring! Thank you for watching

[@crissteejonas]

Nice work Ginka Hanga!! Appreciate the patience and peaceful mind that are your work companions. Also fun jumper you wear, is "NO COFFEE' somehow related to your work philosophy?

[@GinkoHanga]

Cheers man. NO COFFEE is a coffee brand from Japan, not a philosophy just an old barista coffee snob hahah

[@crissteejonas]

@@GinkoHanga hehe, I feel tricked!

[@broakland2]

Is it up for sale yet? So much work and dedication, thank you for the video!

[@GinkoHanga]

It’s in its final stage of testing and then it will be out shortly. Not long now!! Exciting times 😊

[@MrHorstinator1212]

Awesome video! What exactly is the advantage of not moving the block at all during the carving process?

[@GinkoHanga]

Thank you. This is a big question with a lot of nuances reasons, but there are a couple of advantages. One is speed, when you are carving delicate dots and lines and you turn the block it’s easy to lose you place and can’t see where you cut because of the light, so this slows you down. Second is the feel of the lines, it’s best to cut curves in on fluid stoke and if you stop and start as you turn you can lose the life in the lines your carving. Another reason is that bigger blocks are difficult to carve sitting in the traditional way if you turn to cut lines. It’s not easy to reach the top of an Oban block in portrait without getting up. There are a bunch of other reasons to do with the angle of the knife and how pigment is brushed onto the block.. too much to go into in a comment. It takes a long time to get comfortable carving this way but once you got it, it makes life a lot easier. That’s not to say we don’t turn blocks at all! Hope this helps

[@MrHorstinator1212]

@@GinkoHanga Thanks for the informative answer. I experimented today a bit with not turning, and it felt absolutely impossible + the results were horrendous :D it is always very humbling (and informative) to see somebody leagues above your own skill "show off" their hard work. Looking forward to the next series, if something like that is planned.

[@GinkoHanga]

It takes a while, I was really strict with myself for a long time wouldn’t turn for any reason and I became comfortable. It comes eventually if you’re persistent!

[@r0se838]

Hello, I am totally new to this so forgive me if this is a silly question! What kind of paper/technique did you use to transfer your original tracing onto the wood block initially? It came out so clear. Do you have any resources available to help me with that process? Thank you!

[@GinkoHanga]

Not a silly questions it’s kinda niche haha. For transfer we use thin ganpi paper (usually what’s called 3 or 5 momme, which is just the thickness). The paper you see me doing the colour transfers is a little special it’s essentially the same thing but with a twist. It’s called Awazeshigami, which is just ganpi with a pulp backing. Ganpi you can get from mokuhankan or ozu washi among other places depending on where you live.

[@r0se838]

@@GinkoHanga Thank you for the reply! So you print your tracing onto ganpi paper and then transfer it onto the wood with some rice paste before carving the key block?

[@GinkoHanga]

@r0se838 correct. Part 2 shows this process

[@kstutz230]

What wood are you using?

[@GinkoHanga]

It’s called ‘Yama zakura’ it’s a type of cherry grown wild in the mountains of japan

[@kstutz230]

@@GinkoHanga Thank you!

[@garylane1920]

Whilst I found the very detailed and informative process enjoyable in what’s required, but I do find the back ground music both annoying; particularly when talking at the same time ; as I do with the vast majority of videos done ; plus choice of music . Not to all liking.! I find it best to leave the music left out and leave it up to the listener to pick their own whilst watching But otherwise , like to see more and the instructive processes that goes into this type of art work . Info on the tools used would be also most helpful Thanks again

[@GinkoHanga]

Point taken! The issue with the video I took was that I listen to music and audiobooks while I work. So I had to remove the audio from nearly all the video and it was very sterile without something. I’m making an effort to dedicate filming time with no background noise.

[@TiborHunka]

Aki nem tud angolul az ki van zárva a tanulásból . Ezt nagyon nem tudom díjazni .

[@GinkoHanga]

You can try the CC function in the top right to give you translated subtitles.

[@albertomartinezalbors9079]

😳 masterful work

[@GinkoHanga]

🙇🏻

[@ljjlander1]

Dave Bull sent me here 😁

[@markusschulz3835]

very nice video, you should add a link to your yt channel on your website and instagram so people can find it XD

[@GinkoHanga]

Thank you for the note. I’ll add my page link to my website. 🫡

[@ВладимирУстинов-щ5в]

А не проще нарисовать, а повторы печатать на принтере ведь большой разницы в картинке не будет зачем мучать себя, если можно всё тоже самое делать намного быстрее.